Three-piece almost-bluegrassers the TOUGHCATS will resume gigging sometime in November after taking off most of October to work on a new album and write new material. See www.toughcats.com for a video of some of the recording sessions and a sneak peek at the new material.
MEANTONE doesn’t have a release date yet, but the two-piece new-blues effort are done with Roller Derby Girls, which is, well, a paean to the roller derby girls, we’re guessing. Apparently, the plans are to release a disc with video attached, but you may just find yourself with some pictures. Don’t worry, iPhoto allows you to set slideshows to music, so it’ll seem like a video, we figure.
The inimitable BULLY CLUB, led by DOUG COWAN for more than a decade now, will be releasing their fourth full-length, appropriately titled Tenure, on November 29. As always, the packaging looks to be first rate and early listens to MySpace show a continuing commitment to catchy pop-rock.
COVERED IN BEES have a new album, a follow-up to Portland Death Punk Vol. 1, which was released Halloween night with a show at Geno’s that featured PIGBOAT and TWISTED ROOTS. Not surprisingly, it’s called Portland Death Punk, Vol. 2: Louder than Fire, and they’re teaming up with FOX 23 to promote it. Look for the Bees on TV. They’re in commercials now, baby.
The DON CAMPBELL BAND are set to release their newest full-length, American Garage, which features not only TOM WAITS’s “Ol’ ‘55,” but also MEATLOAF’s “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad.” Huzzah. The press release promises “a little country, a little bluegrass, a little adult contemporary — with dashes of rock and acoustic,” which portends a departure from Don’s traditional pop-country approach. Though the disc is slated for release later in November, you can catch a preview at the Stone Mountain Arts Center this Friday. Hey, the guy received a Distinguished Achievement Award in May from the University of Maine at Augusta at their commencement. Dude must be a star.
